Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Colonel)

Unit:

Kommandeur Fallschirmjäger-Flak-Regiment "Hermann Göring"

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberst (Group Captain)

Unit:

Kommandeur FschPzErs u. AusbBrig "Hermann Göring"

Awarded on:

May 9th, 1945

Meyer’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“Oberst Meyer (commander of the Fsch.Pz.A.- und E.-Brigade ‘Hermann Göring’) has demonstrated outstanding personal bravery, swift initiative and bold aggressiveness during the retreat battles in East Prussia in January 1945. Here he and his Brigade were consistently deployed as a rearguard, and in this capacity they provided invaluable security for the retreat movements of multiple Heer Divisionen.

Particularly noteworthy is the fact that Oberst Meyer achieved this with a newly constituted training and replacement unit, one which was woefully inadequate in regards to both personnel and materiel for the conduct of active combat.

The Brigade was established at the beginning of November 1944 as a training and replacement unit for the Fsch.Pz.Korps ‘Hermann Göring’, and it was filled primarily with young recruits that were inducted in either December or January. They were thus only in the beginning of their training. The permanent staff were composed of invalids and soldiers that were still not fully combat-capable on account of recent wounds.

The Brigade had an operational strength of:

63 officers
3800 NCOs and men.,

for which only 1200 German rifles, 60 MGs, 4 medium mortars and 2 s.F.H. 18s were available as equipment. The remaining weapons consisted of captured foreign rifles and 30 foreign MGs (which each had around 30 & 1000 rounds of ammunition available, respectively). Armour defeating weapons amounted to a totally inadequate stock of close combat weapons. Vehicles and communication equipment was also in short supply. Winter gear was, by and large, not available.

Despite the Brigade’s poor state of outfitting Oberst Meyer has nonetheless managed to bring his unit to battle and retain its combat cohesion in an area of operations that saw numerous Heer formations flee after offering only token resistance. This was done even whilst being deployed totally alone. The Brigade has succeeded in holding its given positions against strong attacks long enough for reinforcements to arrive, and only then did it pull back as per orders. In this capacity it made a decisive contribution as a rearguard for the withdrawal movements of the Heer across the Vistula. Only his ruthless devotion to duty, magnificent leadership and iron willpower enabled him and his unit to endure this crisis situation in the face of a far numerically superior foe. Oberst Meyer cannot be given enough credit for fulfilling his mission under the most difficult of circumstances and retaining the cohesion of his Brigade despite massive opposing pressure.

Furthermore the Brigade has also succeeded in winning multiple tactical victories thanks to the personal initiative of its commander.

Of his many achievements, Oberst Meyer made a particularly impressive display of bravery and decisiveness at Hohenkirch on the 24.01.1945. During the withdrawal movements the enemy succeeded in using their motorized forces to overtake our retreating troops and occupy Hohenkirch. In response Oberst Meyer led his Brigade around the south of Hohenkirch and reordered it for an attack to the west of the village. However during the assembly for this attack the Soviets launched their own attack westwards out of Hohenkirch with strong anti-tank and mortar support.

Clearly recognizing the impending crisis, Oberst Meyer decided to launch an immediate counterattack. His soldiers took their lead from his example, and so he and his men thrust deep into the attacking Soviets, took the village of Hohenkirch and held it against further attacks. With this an extremely threatening situation was reversed, and the Soviets were preventing from interfering the withdrawal movements of the Heer formations with strong motorized forces of their own.

Since the 26.01.1945 the Brigade has been deployed for the defense of the bridgehead and fortress at Graudenz. Up until now the enemy has vainly attempted to conquer this position despite having support from artillery of all calibers, tanks, anti-tank guns, Katyushas and major aerial attacks.

Oberst Meyer’s outstandingly brave conduct and superior leadership have meant that he has had a decisive share in the successes of his unit. For this reason he deserves to be honoured with the high award of the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)